EMPLOYER SUPPORT AWARDS Winners
SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY
D & G Zahmel Farming, Innisfail
David & Colleen Zahmel employ
their son WO2 Graham Zahmel
to operate and run the family
farming business in Innisfail.
Graham has been an active
reservist and key member of the
Innisfail platoon for many years.
In addition, Graham as a senior
reserve soldier is employed as a
Patrol Master and has over many
years deployed on Operation
Resolute in the Torres Strait
and numerous training courses.
David has been accommodating
in providing Graham the flexibility
to accommodate his protected
Defence Service Leave.
MEDIUM BUSINESS CATEGORY
J Gilbert & Sons, Mareeba
Paul & Jenny employ their son,
Sgt John Gilbert, plus their other
seven sons to help operate and
run the family farming businesses
in Mareeba and Tully. The farms
grow various crops including
sugar cane and bananas. Sgt
Gilbert has been an active
reservist and member of the
Atherton platoon for many years.
John is employed as a Patrol
Commander and has, over many
years, deployed on Operation
Resolute and numerous training
courses. Paul and Jenny have
been quite accommodating in
providing Sgt Gilbert the flexibility
to accommodate his protected
Defence Service Leave. J Gilbert
& Sons are grateful for the support
from DRSC and welcome the
Employer Support Payment which
goes some way to compensating
for the absences.
LARGE BUSINESS CATEGORY
Golder Associates, Cairns
For some training courses, the
Army requires soldiers to attend
continuously over a period of
weeks every year. This year
Private Williamson completed
a total of 12 weeks training
to c omplete her initial recruit
training and clerical trade.
Golder Associates management
recognises that these absences
are not a cost, but rather an
investment, in the individual and
Private Williamson’s manager,
Kirsten Stephens has commented
on how well Olivia has developed
in the short time since she joined
the Reserves. Kirsten stated she
had noticed a significant increase
in Olivia’s decision making,
leadership and work skills since
she completed her recruit and
clerk’s courses.
PUBLIC SECTOR CATEGORY
Queensland Police Service,
Northern Region
Many of the part time soldiers
at the unit are also employed as
state police officers. It makes
sense that these individuals who
are already so community minded
to make the decision to serve in
the Police Service, also serve in
the Armed Services. This year
QPOL was nominated by officers
and soldiers with special mention
to the Cairns, Edmonton and
Thursday Island stations. The
Queensland Police Service is a
great example of an employer
who acknowledges, appreciates
and utilises the additional skills
that service personnel in the
part-time Army can provide to
an employer. The unit command
team also thanks and commends
the Queensland Police Service
for their flexibility to enable full
participation in the Army reserves
by their members.
NOT FOR PROFIT
Wujal Wujal Community
Over the past year the Wujal
Wujal community as a whole
has been extremely supportive
of men and women from their
community. In collaboration with
Major Josh Mickle in particular,
the community has enabled a
number of men and women to
successfully join the Reserves and
complete their initial training. The
support provided has come from
all members of the community
and has ranged from hosting
unit visits, providing facilities and
assisting community members
in making their progress through
the recruiting system. They have
also supported their absences
from the community and now look
forward to these new soldiers
helping more members to join.
Issue 21 |
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